British American Tobacco PLC (LSE:BATS) (BAT) has announced several management changes following Tadeu Marraco’s appointment as CEO, which was confirmed last month.
Included in the changes are Johan Vandermeulen's appointment as chief operating officer, effective 1 July, while Kingsley Wheaton is named chief strategy and growth officer, effective 1 September.
Vandermeuelen will be accountable for driving business performance, operational excellence and execution, BAT said in a statement.
It added that Davide Waterfield has been promoted to the BAT management board as president and CEO of Reynolds American and will report directly to Vandermeulen.
Fred Monteiro, director of Americas and Europe, Michael Dijanosic, director of Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, Zafar Khan, director of operations and Javed Iqbal, director of digital & information will all also report to Vandermeulen.
Reporting Wheaton includes Luciano Comin, who was promoted to marketing director, combustibles and new categories.
Also reporting to Wheaton Paul McCory, the new director of corporate and regulatory affairs and James Barrett, the new director of business development.
James Murphy, director of research & science and Jerome Abelman, director of legal affairs & general counsel, will continue in their roles reporting directly to the chief executive.
"This refreshed Management Board structure is critical to my commitment to building a progressive and agile organisation with a collaborative and inclusive culture, enabling simultaneous performance and transformation,” said Marraco.
Guy Meldrum, currently president & CEO of Reynolds American, and Paul Lageweg, currently director of new categories, will step down from their roles and from the management board with effect from 30 June 2023 and will facilitate a transition with their successors.
The existing roles of chief transformation officer, chief growth officer, director of new categories and director of combustibles will be removed from the management board as their accountabilities transfer within the new structure.
BAT said a comprehensive process is underway to identify and appoint successors for the roles of finance director and director of talent, culture & inclusion reporting to the chief executive.